We dedicate the rematch between Tromsø and Maine Chessclub to Boris Spassky

by  • 

Dr Pavel Sulyandziga plays Boris Spassky at a simultaneous exhibition.
Photo: Private | Dr. Pavel Sulyandziga

 

 

We dedicate the rematch between Tromsø and Maine The 10th World Champion Boris Vasilievich Spassky

Every experienced chess player knows the name of Boris Spassky. We dedicate our match vs. Maine Chess Club from the US to the tenth World Champion in celebration of his 84th birthday, which this week falls on Saturday the 30th. Spassky was born in Leningrad and at the age of 10 he gains worldwide attention when defeating Botvinnik in a simul. Spassky will forever be remembered for his great games of chess, among others, his Kings’ gambit win vs. Bobby Fischer in Mar Del Plata 1960 and several of his wins against Tigran Petrosian in the 1969 World Championship and so on. I best remember his spectacular win with Black against Bent Larsen in 1971 in the Match of the Century – The USSR vs. the World – but with so many splendid wins spanning so many decades, exciting is to go through his games. Spassky paid Dr Pavel Sulyandziga Chess Community a visit and gave a simultaneous exhibition, illustrated by the pictures in this report. We – Maine and Tromsø – wish Boris Spassky truly the best and hope he gets the attention he deserves on his birthday on Saturday.

 

The Swedish book about Boris Spassky’s victory against Bent Larsen in 1968 is among my favourites

 

A story or two about Spassky and Magnus Carlsen

Let me share with you a short story. Before the Chess Olympiad in Tromsø in 2014, the author Lars Grahn released a great book titled När Bent mötte Boris och sista dansen med Lizzie [When Bent met Boris and the last dance with Lizzie]. It’s about the 1968 match between Boris Spassky and Bent Larsen with analyses by Peter Heine Nielsen. Spassky won the match and later gained the right to challenge Petrosian for the World Title in 1969 where he prevailed and became the tenth World Chess Champion. Peter Heine handed World Champion Magnus Carlsen this gem of a book in 2014, as inspiration. Magnus, indeed, was inspired and even ventured the Closed Sicilian with 7. Nh3 Spassky himself had tried – in a game during the Olympiad! Yes, against Radoslaw Wojtaszek in the match between Norway and Poland Magnus tried the Closed Sicilian and won a nice game at that! It was not the first time, though, Magnus was inspired by Spassky. Against Ponomariov in Tal Memorial in 2009, he reportedly was inspired by a Spassky game when he crashed through with 19. Nfxe6! So, let yourself be inspired by Boris Spassky during Tromsø’s match against Maine this Saturday!

 

 

Spassky plays a chess community in an event still remembered
Photo: Private | Dr. Pavel Sulyandziga

 

 

Tromsø will play Maine on Sunday 31/1 – Game on!

Tromsø will play Maine on Sunday the 31th of January. More information to come. The play will take place over 15 or 20 boards, is a rematch and Tromsø hopes it will be as exciting as the previous match played in November! Maine won that match 22-18. As you may glean from the pictures, Dr Pavel Sulyandziga, who kindly collaborates with us in Tromsø, makes these friendly matches possible for all of us! He is the coordinator on the Maine side and is of great help with his niece Victoria. We hope both teams will do their best to make this match memorable and when dedicated to Boris Spassky, we’d better deliver some exciting chess. If you want to play for Maine – contact Dr Pavel Sulyandziga immediately. If you want to play for Team Tromsø, email me at Sjakkfantomet@gmail.com. Game on!

 

Spassky takes his time and even have time for å coffee!
Photo: Private | Dr Pavel Sulyandziga

 

Essential links: